Key Takeaways
- Yes. An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor partner from Nauru for a Subclass 309, Subclass 820 or Subclass 300 visa, provided the sponsor is eligible and the relationship is genuine and continuing.
- Nauruan citizens are not eVisitor eligible, and the Pacific Engagement Visa is a separate pathway with its own selection process. Neither replaces a partner visa for a couple who want to build a life together in Australia.
- A Nauruan partner usually needs a police clearance certificate from the Nauru Police Force, health examinations, and civil documents that are consistent with the passport, including documents issued before and after the country formally adopted the name Republic of Naoero.
- Nauruan partners already in Australia as students, workers or visitors must check their visa conditions first. Conditions 8503 and 8535 can prevent an onshore partner visa application.
- A different group, people taken to Nauru under regional processing and later brought to Australia, are transitory persons. Section 46B of the Migration Act stops most of them from making a valid partner visa application unless the Minister personally lifts the bar.
To sponsor partner from Nauru, the Australian sponsor must meet the sponsor rules and the couple must show the Department of Home Affairs a genuine and continuing relationship. A decision to sponsor partner from Nauru also brings practical questions that larger countries do not raise: a very small population, limited official records, long separations, a close and growing relationship between the two governments, and visa options that couples often hear about but that work very differently from a partner visa.
This guide is written for the Australian sponsor. It explains who can sponsor, which partner visa fits, how the links between Nauru and Australia affect the plan, which documents and checks a Nauruan partner needs, how to prove a relationship conducted between a Pacific island and Australia, and what to do if the partner is already in Australia. It also includes a separate section for a different situation: people who were taken to Nauru under regional processing and are now in Australia. The guide closes with how My Migration Lawyers helps a sponsor partner from Nauru application. The overview of partner visas is a useful starting point for couples who are new to the system.
Can an Australian sponsor partner from Nauru?
Yes. An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over can sponsor partner from Nauru for an Australian partner visa. The partner can be a married spouse or a de facto partner, and same sex and opposite sex couples are treated in the same way.
The legal test is the same for every country. A decision to sponsor partner from Nauru is assessed against the same criteria that apply to a partner from anywhere else. The Department must be satisfied that the couple has a mutual commitment to a shared life as spouses or de facto partners to the exclusion of all others, that the relationship is genuine and continuing, and that the couple lives together or does not live separately and apart on a permanent basis. The guide to partner visa eligibility explains these requirements, and the answer on who can sponsor a partner visa summarises the sponsor categories.
A sponsor partner from Nauru application is made in two parts. The Nauruan partner lodges the visa application online. The sponsor then lodges the online sponsorship, which is Form 40SP, using the Transaction Reference Number of the visa application. The guide to Form 40SP explains the form, and the guide to partner visa sponsorship assessment explains how the Department assesses it. Sponsorship approval is decided inside the visa decision, as a time of decision criterion, so the sponsor does not receive a separate approval. Both parts must be in place before a sponsor partner from Nauru application can be decided.
The sponsor rules
Every sponsor partner from Nauru case begins with the sponsor, not the partner.
- Two partners and five years. Under regulation 1.20KB, a sponsor generally cannot sponsor more than two partners in total, and cannot sponsor within 5 years of a previous partner sponsorship, or within 5 years of the sponsor's own grant as a partner, unless there are compelling circumstances. The sponsorship limitations page explains the rule and the exceptions.
- Police checks and relevant offences. Under regulation 1.20KC, the Department may ask the sponsor for police checks and may refuse to approve the sponsorship where the sponsor has a conviction for a relevant offence, unless it is reasonable to approve it. The guide to sponsor relevant offences explains which offences matter.
- The undertaking. The sponsor undertakes to provide accommodation and financial assistance for the partner's first 2 years in Australia. The guide to the sponsor undertaking explains the commitment.
The guide to partner visa sponsor requirements covers each rule in detail, and the guide to partner visa sponsor documents lists what the sponsor provides. A sponsor who has sponsored a partner before should raise that history at the start, because the five year rule can stop a plan to sponsor partner from Nauru before the relationship is even considered.
How do the links between Nauru and Australia affect a partner visa?
The links between Nauru and Australia do not change the legal test for a partner visa, but they explain why so many relationships form and why many Nauruan partners are already familiar with Australian systems. They also explain why couples often ask whether a different visa would be quicker before they decide to sponsor partner from Nauru.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Nauru has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The Nauru-Australia Treaty was signed in Canberra in December 2024 and entered into force on 19 September 2025. Under it, Australia will provide budget support and funding for policing and security over five years. DFAT also records that Nauru opened a High Commission in Australia in March 2022, and that Nauruans take part in Australia Awards scholarships, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme and the Pacific Engagement Visa.
Those links bring people together, and they are the background to most decisions to sponsor partner from Nauru. A sponsor may have met a partner while working in Nauru, while the partner was studying in Australia on a scholarship, through a Pacific church or sporting community, or through family. Each of these is an ordinary way for a relationship to begin, and none is a reason for concern on its own. What matters is that the sponsor partner from Nauru application shows how the relationship developed after that first meeting.
The name Republic of Naoero
In 2026 Nauru formally adopted the name Republic of Naoero, following a constitutional amendment passed by its Parliament. Australian Government pages, including the Australian High Commission's website, now use the name Naoero. For a couple who sponsor partner from Nauru, this means some documents may show "Nauru" and others "Naoero", depending on when they were issued. That is not an identity inconsistency, but it should be explained in the application so that a case officer does not have to work it out. The answer on different names and dates on documents explains how to present variations.
Which visa route suits a couple who sponsor partner from Nauru?
The right route depends on where the Nauruan partner will be when the application is lodged, what visa they hold if they are in Australia, and whether the couple is married, de facto or engaged. Most couples who sponsor partner from Nauru choose between three options.
Subclass 309, lodged while the partner is outside Australia
The Subclass 309 partner visa is lodged while the partner is outside Australia, usually from Nauru itself. It leads to the permanent Subclass 100. For a partner living in Nauru, this is usually the most straightforward route. The guide to the offshore partner visa explains the process, and the guide on offshore partner visa lodgement explains the practical steps.
Subclass 820, lodged while the partner is in Australia
The Subclass 820 partner visa is lodged while the partner is in Australia and leads to the permanent Subclass 801. It is only available if the partner's current visa allows a further application in Australia. The section below on partners already in Australia explains the conditions that can block it. The guide to the onshore partner visa explains how this route works.
Subclass 300, for an engaged couple
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa suits a couple who are engaged and intend to marry in Australia within the visa period. The answer on prospective marriage visa requirements explains the criteria, and the answer on an engagement ceremony and a fiance visa explains how a traditional engagement is treated.
The comparison of the Subclass 820 and Subclass 309 visas and the guide to which partner visa pathway to choose help a sponsor partner from Nauru plan settle on the right subclass before anything is lodged. Lodging the wrong subclass is one of the most avoidable mistakes in a sponsor partner from Nauru matter, as the guide to partner visa application mistakes explains.
Is the Pacific Engagement Visa an alternative to a partner visa?
No, not in the way most couples hope. DFAT lists Nauru as a participating country in the Pacific Engagement Visa, but that visa is a separate permanent pathway with its own selection process and its own criteria. It is not based on a relationship with an Australian, and a couple cannot rely on it to keep their plans on track. A couple who want to sponsor partner from Nauru should not delay a partner visa while waiting on a different pathway.
A partner visa is different in two important ways. First, it is based on the relationship itself, so the sponsor and the partner control the timing of the application. Second, the sponsor's role is built into the law, through Form 40SP and the sponsor undertaking. For a couple who are already committed to each other, the decision to sponsor partner from Nauru on a partner visa is usually the more certain path, even if the processing time is long.
Some couples are told that a Nauruan partner can simply come to Australia as a worker and apply for a partner visa later. That can work, but only if the worker's visa does not carry a condition that prevents a further application in Australia. The section on partners already in Australia explains this risk. Before a Nauruan partner accepts a work placement, a couple who intend to sponsor partner from Nauru should check whether the work visa allows a later onshore partner application. The guide to temporary versus permanent partner visas explains how the partner visa stages work, and the answer on whether a partner visa is permanent residency explains when permanent residence begins.
Visiting Australia first
A Nauruan passport is not on the list of eVisitor eligible passports in the Migration (Specification of eVisitor eligible passport) Instrument (LIN 23/064) 2023. A Nauruan partner who wants to visit Australia must apply for a different visitor visa and show a genuine intention to stay temporarily. If the visitor visa carries condition 8503, the partner cannot lodge a Subclass 820 in Australia unless the condition is waived. The guide to a partner visa while on a tourist visa and the guide to condition 8503 explain how this affects a sponsor partner from Nauru plan.
What documents does a Nauruan partner need?
A Nauruan partner needs a valid passport, identity and civil status documents, a police clearance certificate, health examinations and relationship evidence. Each document must tell the same story about the partner's name, date of birth and marital status. Consistency is the single most important feature of a sponsor partner from Nauru document bundle. The partner visa documents answer and the document checklist set out the general list.
Passport and identity
PIC 4021 requires a valid passport. A sponsor partner from Nauru application should use one passport consistently in the visa application, the health and character checks and any visitor visa. If the partner renews the passport during processing, the Department must be told. When you sponsor partner from Nauru, the sponsor should also keep a copy of every passport page used in the application. The guide to a change of passport explains what to do, and the answer on an expired passport during a partner visa explains the risks.
Birth, marriage and family records
In a very small community, many records are held locally and some older records may be incomplete. Where a birth certificate or marriage certificate cannot be obtained, the partner should provide the best available alternative evidence and a written explanation. The answer on what to do if a birth or marriage certificate cannot be obtained explains the approach. A sponsor partner from Nauru application should never leave a missing document unexplained.
If the couple married in Nauru, the marriage must be valid under the law of the place where it took place. A sponsor partner from Nauru application should include the marriage certificate and evidence of how the marriage was registered. The answer on whether an overseas marriage is recognised explains the test. Where a customary or church ceremony took place but no civil registration followed, the answer on an unregistered marriage explains how the relationship may still be presented as de facto.
Translations
Any document that is not in English needs an accurate English translation. The guide to partner visa evidence translation explains the standard. Messages between the couple in the Nauruan language should also be translated where they are relied on, as the answer on translating messages explains.
How does a Nauruan partner get a police certificate?
A Nauruan partner usually obtains a police clearance certificate from the Nauru Police Force. Every sponsor partner from Nauru application needs this certificate. Department practice under PIC 4001 requires a police certificate from each country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years since turning 16.
The Government of Canada's police certificate guidance for Nauru identifies the document as a police clearance certificate issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Nauru Police Force, in Aiwo District. That guidance states that citizens living in Nauru may apply in person or by mail, that citizens living outside Nauru must apply by mail, and that the application includes the applicant's details, a copy of the passport and the fee paid at the Revenue Office. A sponsor partner from Nauru application should allow time for this process, especially where the partner is outside Nauru.
A Nauruan partner who has studied or worked in Australia, Fiji or another country for 12 months or more also needs a certificate from that country. Time spent in Australia is usually covered by an Australian Federal Police check. The guide to the partner visa AFP police check and the guide to overseas police certificates explain both. A sponsor partner from Nauru application should list every country of residence with dates, so the Department can see that every certificate has been provided. The answer on what to do when a police certificate cannot be obtained explains the steps if a certificate is delayed.
Health examinations when you sponsor partner from Nauru
A Nauruan partner must meet the health criteria in PIC 4005 or PIC 4007, which usually means completing the health examinations the Department requests. The guide to partner visa health requirements explains what is assessed, and the guide to the partner visa medical examination explains how the examinations are arranged.
Health examinations must be done by a panel physician approved by the Department. The partner should check where the nearest approved clinic is before booking any travel, because a sponsor partner from Nauru case can be delayed if the examinations have to be rearranged. If a health concern is identified, the Subclass 309 and Subclass 820 visas have a health waiver. A sponsor partner from Nauru application that raises a health issue early is easier to manage than one where the issue appears late. The guide to the partner visa health waiver explains how it works, and the answer on a health condition and a partner visa explains the first steps.
Proving the relationship from a small island community
Relationship evidence must cover the four aspects that the regulations list: financial aspects, the nature of the household, social aspects and the nature of the commitment. When you sponsor partner from Nauru, the challenge is usually not a lack of relationship but a lack of paperwork that a case officer recognises.
Long separations and visits
Many couples spend long periods apart because the sponsor works in Australia and the partner lives in Nauru. Separation is not fatal to a partner visa, but it must be explained and the contact between the couple must be shown. A sponsor partner from Nauru application should give the reason for each separation, such as work, study or family obligations. The guide to a long distance relationship and the guide to temporary separation explain what helps. Boarding passes, passport stamps and accommodation records show visits, as the guide to travel evidence explains.
Social and family recognition
In a community where most people know each other, the relationship may be widely known without being written down anywhere. Form 888 statements from people who know the couple, including family members, church leaders and colleagues, can capture that recognition. In a sponsor partner from Nauru case, these statements often carry more weight than photographs. The guide to Form 888 for a partner visa and the answer on statements from overseas friends explain how statements from people outside Australia are used. The answer on whether families know about the relationship explains why family knowledge matters.
Money and communication
Regular money transfers, shared costs and daily communication are often the clearest evidence for a sponsor partner from Nauru relationship. The answer on money transfers as relationship evidence and the answer on messages, emails and call records explain how to present them. The guide to weak partner visa evidence explains how to strengthen an application with limited documents. Couples who sponsor partner from Nauru should start collecting evidence early, because records from earlier years are often the hardest to find.
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What if the partner from Nauru is already in Australia?
If the Nauruan partner is already in Australia, the first step is to check the partner's current visa and its conditions, because some conditions prevent a valid Subclass 820 application. A sponsor partner from Nauru plan that ignores a visa condition can end in an invalid application. The answer on a bridging visa before invalidity explains why validity matters so much.
Students and scholarship holders
Department policy states that condition 8535 is mandatory for Subclass 500 student visas granted to Foreign Affairs students and Defence students. Condition 8535 means the holder will not be entitled to be granted a substantive visa, other than a protection visa or a government supported student visa, while in Australia. Department policy explains that the condition ensures government sponsored students return home at the end of their studies. A Nauruan partner who is studying in Australia on a government scholarship should therefore check whether condition 8535 is on the visa before any partner visa is planned. The guide to a partner visa on a student visa explains the general rules. For a couple who sponsor partner from Nauru while the partner holds a scholarship, the usual answer is a Subclass 309 lodged after the studies end and the partner has returned home.
Workers and visitors
A Nauruan partner who is in Australia as a worker or a visitor should check the visa grant notice for condition 8503. The guide to the condition 8503 waiver and the answer on condition 8503 and partner visas explain the limited circumstances in which the condition can be waived. A couple who sponsor partner from Nauru should read the grant notice before the partner travels, not after. Where the condition is on the visa and cannot be waived, the couple may need to lodge a Subclass 309 after the partner leaves Australia. The answer on changing from a Subclass 309 to a Subclass 820 explains why the subclass cannot simply be switched.
Partners whose visa has expired
If the partner's visa has already expired, the partner is unlawful and Schedule 3 criteria will usually apply to a Subclass 820 application unless there are compelling reasons not to apply them. The Schedule 3 waivers page and the guide to a partner visa after overstaying explain the requirements. A sponsor partner from Nauru application in this situation should be prepared carefully and lodged quickly.
Transitory persons, section 46B and Ministerial intervention
This section is not about Nauruan citizens. It concerns a separate group: people who arrived in Australia by boat, were taken to Nauru under regional processing, and were later brought to Australia. Some of these people are now in relationships with Australian citizens or permanent residents. Their position under the law is very different from that of a Nauruan citizen, and the usual steps to sponsor partner from Nauru do not apply to them until a legal bar is lifted.
DFAT records that Australia established a regional processing centre in Nauru in September 2012. Department policy explains that a transitory person, as defined in section 5(1) of the Migration Act, is a person who was taken to a regional processing country after arriving in Australia as an unauthorised maritime arrival or an offshore entry person. The definition also covers the child of such a person, if the child was born in the migration zone or in a regional processing country and is not an Australian citizen.
What section 46B does
Department policy explains that section 46B(1) of the Migration Act bars a transitory person who is an unlawful non-citizen, or who holds a bridging visa, a temporary protection visa or certain prescribed temporary visas, from making a valid visa application, unless the Minister determines under section 46B(2) that it is in the public interest to allow the person to do so. Policy also states that the Minister does not have a duty to consider whether to exercise this power, and that an application made by a person affected by the bar is not a valid application.
For a couple in this position, the practical result is clear. While the bar applies, the partner cannot make a valid Subclass 820 application, and the sponsor cannot lodge a sponsorship because there is no valid application to attach it to. Lodging an application anyway does not help, because an invalid application has no legal effect. The guide to an invalid partner visa application explains the consequences of an invalid lodgement.
Asking the Minister to lift the bar
The only way to make a valid application while the bar applies is for the Minister to lift it. A request for Ministerial intervention is a written request that sets out why it is in the public interest to allow the person to apply. It usually explains the person's circumstances in Australia, including any relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, any Australian children, and the length and nature of the relationship. The power is personal to the Minister, it cannot be compelled, and there is no guarantee that a request will be considered.
A couple who are still able to act should prepare the relationship evidence as carefully as they would for the partner visa itself, because the same evidence supports both the request and any later application. If the bar is lifted, the partner visa application must still meet every criterion, including Schedule 3 where the person does not hold a substantive visa. The guide to a partner visa on a Bridging visa E, the guide to a partner visa without a substantive visa and the answer on a partner visa for TPV or SHEV holders explain related issues. Where protection issues also arise, the firm's protection visa lawyers can advise on how the two areas interact.
Tribunal decisions relevant to Pacific couples
Tribunal decisions in the Partner Visa ART Remittals database show how issues common to long distance and island relationships have been reconsidered. Each case is described only by the issue recorded in that database and the fact that the decision under review was remitted, meaning sent back to the Department for reconsideration.
- In To (Migration) [2023] AATA 4331, decided on 19 December 2023, a Subclass 309 matter, the recorded issues were a valid marriage, money transfers and the sponsor's multiple visits to Vietnam. The decision was remitted.
- In 1923768 (Migration) [2020] AATA 3910, decided on 20 July 2020, a Subclass 309 matter, the recorded issues were failure of the health criteria in PIC 4007, a further Medical Officer of the Commonwealth opinion and the health criteria being satisfied. The decision was remitted.
- In Wang (Migration) [2018] AATA 2629, decided on 13 June 2018, a Subclass 820 matter, the recorded issues were Schedule 3, no substantive visa at the time of application and compelling reasons. The decision was remitted.
These decisions do not predict any outcome. They show that money transfers and visits, health assessments and Schedule 3 can each be the deciding issue, and that each sponsor partner from Nauru case depends on its own evidence. No decision of the Tribunal guarantees the result of a later sponsor partner from Nauru application. The guide to the ART review process and the guide to ART evidence explain how review works.
Costs, processing times and review rights
The partner visa application charge is from AUD 11,710 as at October 2026. As at October 2026, the Department reports that 50% of Subclass 309 applications are decided in 21 months and 90% in 32 months, 50% of Subclass 820 applications in 22 months and 90% in 30 months, and 50% of Subclass 300 applications in 14 months and 90% in 26 months. The guide to partner visa cost and the guide to partner visa processing times explain both. Couples who sponsor partner from Nauru should also budget for travel to health examinations and for visits during processing.
If a partner visa is refused, an application for review by the Administrative Review Tribunal must be made within 28 days after notification of the refusal, or 7 days if the applicant is in immigration detention, and that period cannot be extended. For a Subclass 820 or Subclass 309 refusal, the visa applicant applies. For a Subclass 300 refusal, the sponsor applies. The partner visa refusals page and the answer on who applies for review of an offshore refusal explain the steps.
How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Nauru
My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors and their partners in many partner visa matters involving Pacific partners, long separations, limited records and difficult visa histories. When you sponsor partner from Nauru, the firm begins by confirming the sponsor's eligibility and the partner's current position, because those two questions decide which subclass is available.
For a Nauruan citizen partner, the firm checks whether the partner is in Nauru or Australia, reviews any student, worker or visitor visa for condition 8503 or condition 8535, and advises whether a Subclass 309, Subclass 820 or Subclass 300 application should be made. It identifies the police clearance certificate from the Nauru Police Force and any other certificates needed, plans the health examinations around travel, and reviews civil documents so that differences such as "Nauru" and "Naoero" are explained rather than left for a case officer to question. The firm organises relationship evidence for couples who have spent long periods apart, including Form 888 statements from family and community members, money transfers and records of visits. The firm presents the couple's own account and evidence in the form the law requires.
For a partner who is a transitory person, the firm explains how section 46B affects the couple, whether a request for Ministerial intervention is appropriate, and what evidence should accompany it. The firm deals with complex cases of this kind, acts in many partner and sponsor matters, and is capable of handling the sponsor partner from Nauru process carefully from the first assessment to the final decision. The partner visa lawyers page explains how the firm works, the answer on what makes a partner visa complex explains when advice matters most, and the partner visa questions hub answers many related questions.
To discuss how to sponsor partner from Nauru, Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers, or call 1300 040 300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor my partner from Nauru for an Australian partner visa?
Yes. An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over can sponsor a partner from Nauru for a Subclass 309, Subclass 820 or Subclass 300 visa. The sponsor must meet the sponsor rules, including the sponsorship limitation in regulation 1.20KB and the character provisions in regulation 1.20KC. The couple must show a genuine and continuing relationship with a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others. The partner's nationality does not change the legal test.
Which partner visa is best when my partner lives in Nauru?
For a partner who lives in Nauru, the Subclass 309 partner visa is usually the most straightforward route. It is lodged while the partner is outside Australia and leads to the permanent Subclass 100. If the couple is engaged and plans to marry in Australia, the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa may suit them instead. A Subclass 820 is only available if the partner is in Australia on a visa that allows a further application, so it rarely suits a partner who lives in Nauru.
Can a Nauruan citizen visit Australia on an eVisitor?
No. Nauru is not listed in the Migration (Specification of eVisitor eligible passport) Instrument (LIN 23/064) 2023, so a Nauruan passport holder cannot use the eVisitor. A Nauruan partner who wants to visit must apply for a different visitor visa and show a genuine intention to stay temporarily. If the visitor visa carries condition 8503, the partner cannot lodge a Subclass 820 in Australia during the visit unless the condition is waived, so the sponsor should plan the partner visa route before any visit.
Is the Pacific Engagement Visa better than a partner visa for a partner from Nauru?
Not for most couples. DFAT lists Nauru as a participating country in the Pacific Engagement Visa, but it is a separate permanent pathway with its own selection process and criteria, and it is not based on a relationship with an Australian. A partner visa is based on the relationship, so the couple controls when the application is made, and the sponsor's role is part of the law. For a committed couple, the partner visa is usually the more certain path.
What police certificate does a partner from Nauru need?
A partner from Nauru usually needs a police clearance certificate from the Nauru Police Force. Government of Canada guidance identifies the Office of the Commissioner of Police in Aiwo District as the issuer and says citizens living outside Nauru must apply by mail. The partner also needs a police certificate from each other country where they lived for 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years since turning 16, and time in Australia is usually covered by an Australian Federal Police check.
Does the name change to Naoero affect a partner visa application?
It should not affect the outcome, but it should be explained. In 2026 Nauru formally adopted the name Republic of Naoero, and Australian Government pages now use the name Naoero. Some of the partner's documents may show "Nauru" and others "Naoero", depending on when they were issued. A short written explanation, with the documents listed, prevents a case officer from treating the difference as an identity inconsistency. The partner should still use one passport consistently across every form.
My partner from Nauru is studying in Australia on a scholarship. Can they apply for a Subclass 820?
Possibly not. Department policy states that condition 8535 is mandatory for student visas granted to Foreign Affairs students and Defence students. Condition 8535 means the holder cannot be granted a substantive visa, other than a protection visa or a government supported student visa, while in Australia. If the partner's visa carries condition 8535, a Subclass 820 cannot be granted unless the condition is waived. The visa grant notice should be checked before any partner visa is planned.
What if my Nauruan partner cannot get a birth certificate?
The partner should provide the best alternative evidence available and a written explanation of why the certificate cannot be obtained. In a very small community, some records are held locally and older records may be incomplete. Alternative evidence can include other official records showing the partner's name and date of birth. The explanation should say what steps were taken and when. A missing document that is explained is far less damaging than one that is simply left out of the application.
How do we prove our relationship when we live apart between Nauru and Australia?
The couple should show how the relationship continues across the distance. Useful evidence includes daily messages and call records, regular money transfers, records of visits such as boarding passes and passport stamps, and Form 888 statements from family, church and community members who know the couple. A relationship timeline that explains each separation and its reason, such as work in Australia, helps the case officer understand why the couple lives apart for periods and how they plan to live together.
Where does a partner from Nauru complete the health examinations?
The partner must complete the health examinations the Department requests with a panel physician approved by the Department. Before booking travel, the partner should check where the nearest approved clinic is, because the examinations must be done at an approved clinic to count. If the examinations reveal a health concern, the Subclass 309 and Subclass 820 visas allow a health waiver to be considered. Planning the examinations early helps prevent delay in the application.
Is someone taken to Nauru under regional processing able to apply for a partner visa?
Usually not without Ministerial help. A person taken to Nauru under regional processing after arriving by boat is a transitory person under section 5(1) of the Migration Act. Department policy explains that section 46B bars a transitory person who is unlawful or holds a bridging visa, a temporary protection visa or certain prescribed temporary visas from making a valid visa application unless the Minister decides it is in the public interest to lift the bar. The Minister has no duty to consider a request.
Can my partner, who is a transitory person, just lodge a Subclass 820 anyway?
No. Department policy states that an application made by a person affected by an application bar is not a valid application. An invalid application has no legal effect. It does not create a bridging visa, and the sponsor cannot lodge a valid sponsorship because there is no valid application to attach it to. The correct first step is to consider a request to the Minister to lift the section 46B bar, supported by evidence of the relationship and the person's circumstances in Australia.
How long does it take to sponsor a partner from Nauru?
Processing times depend on the subclass. As at October 2026, the Department reports that 50% of Subclass 309 applications are decided in 21 months and 90% in 32 months, and that 50% of Subclass 300 applications are decided in 14 months and 90% in 26 months. Delays in obtaining Nauruan records, a police clearance certificate or health examinations can add time, so these steps should be planned before the application is lodged.
How much does it cost to sponsor a partner from Nauru?
The partner visa application charge is from AUD 11,710 as at October 2026. Other costs usually include health examinations, police certificates, any translations and the cost of travel for visits and examinations. If a refusal is reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal, a review fee applies. The application charge for a Subclass 309 and 100 application is paid once at lodgement, which covers both the temporary and the permanent stage of the application.
Can a sponsor who works in Nauru sponsor a Nauruan partner?
Yes, if the sponsor is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. A sponsor who lives or works in Nauru can still sponsor, but the sponsor's undertaking to support the partner in Australia must be credible, and the couple should explain when they plan to move to Australia. Time living together in Nauru is strong household evidence. The sponsor should keep records of the shared address, shared expenses and how the couple is known in the community.
What happens if the partner visa for my Nauruan partner is refused?
The refusal can usually be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The application for review must be made within 28 days after notification of the refusal, or 7 days in immigration detention, and that period cannot be extended. For a Subclass 309 or Subclass 820 refusal, the visa applicant applies, and for a Subclass 300 refusal, the sponsor applies. The refusal letter should be read immediately so that the review application and fee are lodged within time.
Weiwei Zhang is the Principal Lawyer and Managing Director of My Migration Lawyers. My Migration Lawyers is one of Australia's leading immigration law firms, dedicated exclusively to Australian immigration law. The firm represents individuals, families and businesses across all areas of migration law, with particular expertise in complex immigration matters, Partner Visas, Protection Visas, corporate migration, visa refusals, Administrative Review Tribunal reviews, judicial reviews and visa cancellations.
